In this elective, students will first be introduced to the sociological perspective and methods of investigation. They will also examine several Major approaches to understanding how society functions and how individuals and groups interact, compete, and cooperate with each other. Students will then apply these skills and knowledge as they examine key sociological issues, including deviance, crime, social class, gender, race, violence and aging.
Course Content by Month:
| September/February October/March November/April December/May January/June |
September/February
Standards/Units
The Foundations of Society, Sociological Investigation, Culture
Benchmarks
The Sociological Perspective
The Global Perspective
Sociological Theory
Methods of Sociological Research
Cultural Diversity
Assessments
Essay on influence in our lives
Various assignments
Analysis of American values
Tests
Class discussions
Activities/Events
Preferable future activity
Examination of sociological paradigms
Group research activity
Analysis of research methods
Analysis of the “Culture of Victimization»
October/March
Standards/Units
Society, Socialization, Deviance, Crime/Criminal Justice
Benchmarks
Perspectives of Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and the Lenskis
The socialization process
Analysis of deviance
Examination of conformity v. deviance
Types of crime
Assessments
Summary descriptions of the above sociological perspectives
Group activity on “types of criminals”
Tests
Activities/Events
Analysis of suicide
Deviance survey
Analysis of the Uniform Crime Report
Clarification of terms related to various types of crime
Guest speaker from law enforcement agency
November/April
Standards/Units
Crime Unit continued
Benchmarks
Organized crime
Rape/sexual assault
Causes of crime
The criminal justice system
Due process
Assessments
Quizzes
Group projects on causes of crime
Postion paper
Test
Activities/Events
Analysis of organized crime’s structure and code of conduct
How rape is promoted in our society
Video analysis on date rape
Debate on the insanity plea
December/May
Standards/Units
Social Class, Gender, Race and ethnicity
Benchmarks
Dimensions of social inequality
Social classes in the U.S.
Poverty
Gender socialization and stratification
Prejudice and discrimination
Assessments
Various assignments
Group activities of social mobility and poverty
Tests
Activities/Events
Video analysis of “People Like Us”
Group activity on “The Difference Class Makes”
Analysis of gender roles
Stereotypes
Theories of racism
January/June
Standards/Units
Violence, Aging and the Elderly
Benchmarks
Types of violence
Violence in American society
Violence in the media
Serial killers/mass murderers
Assessments
Position paper on theories of violence
Psychological profiles of serial killers/mass murderers
Tests
Activities/Events
Examination of sports and fan violence
TV monitoring activity
Debates on Euthanasia
Stages of grieving